1. Start with the frame
The frame is the first thing to look at. Walls and floors can be rebuilt on a solid frame. Get underneath with a flashlight and look for rust that has eaten into the steel, cracks and bends. If the frame is solid, you have something to work with.
2. Find out how far the rot goes
Walk the whole floor and feel for soft spots. Press on the walls near the corners, windows and doors. One soft corner is a very different job than a floor that gives everywhere you step.
3. Check the running gear
Tires, bearings, spindles, axles and springs all wear out, especially on a camper that sat for years. These are normal repairs, but count them in, because the camper needs to tow safely before anything else matters.
4. Price the replacement honestly
Compare the repair with what it would really cost to replace it with something similar, not the cheapest thing on the lot. If the camper has a layout you love or it is paid off, that counts too.
5. Think about how you will use it
A camper you take out every month is worth more to you than one that sits. The same goes for a working trailer that makes you money. Being honest about this makes the decision easier.
Still not sure?
Let us be the judge. Text a few photos of the floor, the walls and underneath to 417-630-8724. We will tell you what it would take, and then you decide.
